Background: It has been proved that hypoxia is closely related to oncogenesis and development of tumor. The aim of this study is to observe the effect of dexamethasone on expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in lung tissues of hypoxic mice, and to investigate the relationship between hypoxia and angiogenesis and mechanism of dexamethasone.
Methods: The Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group and three experimental groups (3-day hypoxia group, 6-day hypoxia group, and hypoxia+dexamethasone group). HIF-1α and VEGF protein expression was detected in lung tissues of mice by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Expression of HIF-1α and VEGF significantly increased in hypoxia group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Compared with hypoxia group, expression of HIF-1α and VEGF decreased dramatically in hypoxia+dexamethasone group (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF (r=0.730, P=0.007).
Conclusions: Hypoxia can increase the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α in lung tissues of mice. Dexamethasone can inhibit the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α of hypoxic mice and it may have anti-angiogenetic effect.